Hyperbaric oxygen chambers have been around for centuries and have been utilized in hospital settings to heal patients since the mid-1800s. While they will not be a household title like x-ray machines or BloodVitals monitor MRIs, you'll have heard of them being used to deal with SCUBA divers affected by decompression sickness, also known as the bends. However, they also have another therapeutic use that likely hits much closer to house: helping diabetic patients deal with stubborn wounds that simply won’t appear to heal on their own. The remedy is known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). "Diabetes causes a variety of issues in many different techniques of the physique," defined Dr. Marcus Riedhammer, Geisinger wound care specialist. "It may interfere with the body’s capacity to heal wounds, especially on the feet. When someone has diabetes, their blood sugar ranges are too high because their physique just isn't producing an ample amount of insulin, or is not responding appropriately to insulin that has been produced.
This elevated blood sugar level could cause arteries to stiffen and blood vessels to slim, which impairs blood circulation. When blood isn't circulating throughout the body efficiently, cells don’t get the oxygen and nutrients they need to perform all of their normal features, including healing wounds. "Additionally, BloodVitals SPO2 folks with diabetes often suffer from diabetic neuropathy, BloodVitals a condition that damages nerves and BloodVitals wearable reduces sensation," mentioned Dr. Riedhammer. Increasing the quantity of oxygen circulating all through the body with hyperbaric oxygen therapy may help with wound healing. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy includes respiration pure oxygen in an setting that increases the air pressure by as much as two to thrice what would usually be skilled at sea degree. In this fashion, the lungs can process more oxygen than they'd be capable of underneath regular, on a regular basis situations. "The key to hyperbaric oxygen therapy is flooding your physique with more oxygen than it usually will get," mentioned Dr. Riedhammer.
During hyperbaric oxygen therapy, patients lie on a desk inside a transparent plastic tube. The air pressure contained in the tube is elevated and pure oxygen fills the tube. All of the patient has to do is breathe! Typical therapy sessions last for about two hours. The uncomfortable side effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy are usually minimal. Patients might really feel slight pressure in their ears, much like the feeling of taking off in an airplane, which normally goes away with yawning. Afterward patients could also be a little drained, but can usually return to regular activities instantly. To be effective, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may require a number of sessions - generally as many as forty - to promote the healing of stubborn wounds associated to diabetes. "In addition to straightforward wound care, offloading, sustaining a healthy food regimen and BloodVitals wearable taking prescribed medications, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may help with wound healing," said Dr. Riedhammer. When you've got diabetes and have a wound that won’t heal, speak to your physician to find out if hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be best for you. Dr. Marcus Riedhammer, MD, is a Geisinger wound care specialist.
Lindsay Curtis is a health & medical author in South Florida. She labored as a communications skilled for well being nonprofits and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Nursing. Hypoxia is a situation that happens when the physique tissues do not get enough oxygen provide. The human body relies on a steady circulate of oxygen to function properly, and when this supply is compromised, it will probably considerably affect your well being. The signs of hypoxia can fluctuate but commonly embrace shortness of breath, confusion, dizziness, and blue lips or fingertips. Prolonged hypoxia can lead to lack of consciousness, seizures, organ harm, or demise. Treatment relies on the underlying cause and may embrace medicine and oxygen therapy. In extreme circumstances, hospitalization could also be needed. Hypoxia is a relatively common condition that can have an effect on people of all ages, especially those that spend time at excessive altitudes or have lung or coronary heart circumstances. There are four important sorts of hypoxia: hypoxemic, hypemic, stagnant, and histotoxic.